Synthetic milk, the order of the day in festive Aligarh

      Aligarh: With the festive season round the corner and milk being in great demand, unscrupulous elements in the satellite towns of Uttar Pradesh, notably Aligarh, are generating fast bucks through the sale of synthetic milk, causing serious health problems for their consumers. The team of newsmen found synthetic milk being produced openly. The ingredients used were spurious quality milk powder, Ezee, a liquified detergent used for washing woollens, refined oil, urea and small quantities of genuine milk. Rose essence is used to render the taste and flavour of genuine milk to the synthetic milk. "Surely, it needs to be controlled as the milk is used by both the young and the old. To check the situation, a special campaign has begun in Aligarh. We are trying to identify people who are involved in this crime. People from police and the revenue department are preparing a databank . After that we are thinking of kicking off an awareness programme for all those involved, specially milkmen. Most of the time, these people, especially the milkmen, are unaware about the health hazards faced by people due to their deeds," claimed Vijay Kumar Maurya, the senior superintendent of police of Aligarh.

      According to Maurya, sampling and testing too should be done and improved wherever possible in order to put a halt to the ongoing situation. Drinking synthetic milk results in serious health hazards. Kidney, liver and lungs are directly affected by it. In children, their entire development is affected. "A few days earlier, I fell ill after consuming milk. I started vomiting and had loose motions. The milk was so bad that I had to be hospitalized for three days. I was given a drip. Since that day, I have become averse to drinking milk," claimed Vijay Kant Sharma, a victim.
-Oct 30, 2004

Paedophile activities in Goa (Go to Top)

        Goa: Authorities in Goa are worried about the increase of paedophilic activities during tourist seasons. A hike in tourist inflow in recent years has brought up this problem before the local authorities. Arun Sinha, editor of Navhind Times, says it is an international racket and administrators will not be able to stop it. He added that Goa authorities must seek help and co-operation from national and international agencies to put an end to the crime. "It's an international racket and unless and until both the administration and the local people do not co-operate with each other it will be difficult to wipe out the menace," said Sinha. The children who fall prey to paedophile activities come from poor families. Most of these children work as vendors on the beaches and are lured by people with sinister designs. Albertina Almeida, an advocate and a social worker, says that the government is not doing enough to tackle this problem. "Paedophilia is prevalent in Goa and its statistics are hard to count. The persons who're paedphile range from local people to foreign tourists to domestic tourists," said Alemeida. But, the police say it is geared up to take on the problem. The tourist police force has been revamped to make it more effective. Goa DGP Amod Kanth, however, admits that the size of the tourist police force is numerically small and to tackle the problem of paedophilia they need help from other forces. "Police has to have special teams for that, but Goa police on its own cannot do because it is an international network. So, Indian police, CBI Interpol must assist Goa police," says Kanth.
- Oct 20, 2004

Manali turns into a hub of foreign drug traffickers (Go to Top)

       Manali: A large number of foreign tourists nabbed on charges of being involved in drug trafficking in Manali hill resort has sent alarm bells ringing among the district authorities. Over the decades, Manali's verdant valleys amidst snow-capped peaks have turned out to be the hangouts for drug-peddlers and those on the high. It is among the few places in India where cannabis, locally known as charas, has been cultivated without check. Foreign tourists are, however, dismayed by the slur brought on by a few. "They are giving a bad image of a usual tourist who are not taking drugs. Because many a times, the local people here cannot make the difference as who is taking drugs and who is not. I think it is a pity for Manali," said Domnnea from France. Police have stepped up screening of tourists and checking their baggage, but at the same time taking care not to harass genuine tourists looking for peace and tranquility. "In the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of tourists and there has also been a rise in arrests of foreign nationals. I can say that there has been a rise in drug trafficking and at the same time, the police has also intensified action against such dealers," Manali SSP Anand Pratap Singh said.
-Oct 5, 2004